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Argentina's head coach gives final verdict on Messi's availability for the Copa America semi-final against Canada.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has addressed the speculations over Lionel Messi’s availability for the Copa America semi-final clash against Canada.
The 37-year-old has struggled with injuries recently, which has kept him out of games for Inter Miami. At the Copa America, he was unused against Peru due to fitness problems, and his performance on returning in the quarter-final against Ecuador suggested he was still carrying a niggle.
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There were reports that he could miss the game against Canada, but Scaloni has immediately rubbished the suggestions, stating that Messi will play even if he is not 100% fit.
What Scaloni said
Scaloni said that the decision to play Messi against Canada comes easy for him, as the Inter Miami forward contributes immensely, even when he is not totally fit.
"99% of the time, [Messi] is fit to play,” Scaloni said. “It's never happened to me that he's not fit to play.
“Every time he's come out on the pitch, he's fit to play. For [Canada], he's fit to play, without a doubt. It's a very easy decision for me, because it's a very frank decision, that if he's fine, he plays; and if he's not fine, he plays the last 30 minutes. It's that easy.
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"When he's fit, he always plays. There are no doubts. Who would have any doubts? I'm the coach, so I have no doubts. I'm the one who decides and when I see that he's fit to play, even if he's not 100% fit, he's going to play.
“I take responsibility for that but I have no doubts. It's true that that won't ever weigh on me, I know what he can give us even if he's not in optimal condition, I wouldn't make the grave mistake of not putting him on the pitch knowing that he gives us a lot, so that's indisputable."
Argentina will play Canada at the MetLife Stadium in the semi-final of the Copa America on July 10th. Kick-off time is 1:00 AM West African Time.
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